“Giovanni Ruscitti has written a wonderful book of
special relevance for all North and South Americans whose ancestors
have migrated from Asia, Europe, and Africa. His journey to the land of
his forefathers is so meaningful not only because of the discovery of
what connects us ‘Americanos’ to the rest of the world but also the
journey within. A trip in which we all feel recognized. Bravo maestro!”
—Hernando de Soto, finalist for Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and author of Mystery of Capital
Cobblestones, Conversations, and Corks
is a passionate and deeply moving story about a father-son
relationship; a culture rooted in family, food and wine; and an
ancestral small town in Central Italy that was left behind after World
War II.
On November 11, 1943, the Nazis invaded
Cansano, forcing its two thousand inhabitants to make a tough
decision—fight and be killed or sent to a POW camp, stay behind as
servants to the Nazis, or move into the unforgiving mountains of Abruzzo
while the Nazis used their village as a home base. Giovanni Ruscitti’s
family chose the latter and spent the next few months living in
horrendous winter conditions in the rugged mountains. When the war
ended, they returned to a village so ravaged by the Nazis that, today,
the town has less than two hundred citizens and remains in a dilapidated
state.
In this memoir, Ruscitti visits Cansano
for the first time with his family, including parents Emiliano and
Maria. As he walks Cansano’s cobblestones, his father’s stories and life
are illuminated by the town piazza, the steep valley, and the
surrounding mountains. He relives the tales of his parents’ struggles
during World War II, their extreme post-war misery and poverty, their
budding romance after, and their decision to immigrate to the US in
search of the American Dream.
Ruscitti’s
adventure is not just an exploration of his homeland but reveals what
family, culture, wisdom, and love really means. And what our heritage
really tells us about who we are.
Giovanni Ruscitti's memoir about his father and his hometown in Central Italy, the author's parents' struggles as children during WWII in Italy, their relationship, and their eventual "American Dream" immigration to the US. It is an inspiring love story about people, a town, and a culture, told through a trip the author took with them to their hometown in 2013 that brought his father's stories and life-long wisdom to life for the family.
“Giovanni Ruscitti’s father Emilio urged his son to ‘tell our story.’ This remarkable memoir fulfills not only that promise but describes the hopes and dreams of immigrants who brought to this country their traditions, their love of family, and a unity that survived the melting pot of the American experience. This first-generation Italian-American author has created a beautiful, intimate, and touching portrait of not only a father’s love but a family’s commitment to each other and what we all hope to know—where we came from and who we are. It is a story that preaches the art of living life in full, with joy and compassion.”
—Dan Luzadder, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author and journalist
“This touching and inspirational book is a must-read for all walks of life. The United States was built from immigrant families with these shared experiences.”
—Bobby Stuckey, James Beard Award winner, and author of Friuli Food and Wine: Frasca Cooking from Northern Italy's Mountains, Vineyards, and Seaside
“Giovanni Ruscitti has written a wonderful book of special relevance for all North and South Americans whose ancestors have migrated from Asia, Europe, and Africa. His journey to the land of his forefathers is so meaningful not only because of the discovery of what connects us ‘Americanos’ to the rest of the world but also the journey within. A trip in which we all feel recognized. Bravo maestro!”
—Hernando de Soto, finalist for Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and author of Mystery of Capital
“After reading Cobblestones, Conversations, and Corks, I was filled with immense pride. Giovanni Ruscitti’s book is an eloquent and poetic tribute to his father and his family. It’s a work of art that made me laugh and cry.”
—Vic Lombardi, thirty-three-time Emmy-winning sportscaster
“I’m in the middle of the NFL playoffs and couldn’t put the book down. I had to finish it. Readers will love Ruscitti’s book!"
—Mike Shanahan, two-time Super Bowl champion head coach
